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' l UNITEDl STATES PATENT. OFFiCE.

HORACE C. WHITTEN, OF PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO

HIMSELF AND VJOSEPH L. BROWN, OF SAME PLACE. i

PORTABLE WRITING APPARATUS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,326, dated January 6,1863.

To all whom it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that 1, HORACE C. WRITTEN, of Plymouth, in the county ofPlymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new `and usefulImprovement in portable Writing apparatus for the use of soldiers andothers; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in thefollowing specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings,of which Figure l denotes a top view of the said apparatus (or case andtablet) with the cover turned backward. Fig. 2 is a top view of thesame, with the tablet unfolded or in position to serve as a support to asheet of paper while being written upon. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionof the case and the tablet, the latter being in an unfolded state, asshown in Fig. 2. l u The nature of my invention consists in an 1mprovedwriting apparatus, having its tablet and case combined4 and arranged ina peculiar manner with respect to each other, whereby the main portionand the cover not only serve to support the tablet when in use in ahorizontal or the same plane, but the whole, when the tablet is foldedand placed within its case, is rendered very compact for transportation.

`In the drawings,A2 represents a metallic l case, which I usually makeof a cylindrical formand in two parts, A B, of which A is the mainpartor body of the case, while B is the cover thereof, which is hinged tothe main part, as seen in Fig. l. The two heads a a of the case A, Imake of a circular form, and construct both the body portion and thecover semicircular in transverse section, in order that when the coveris turned'backward to its greatest extent the two horizontal edges b bof the cover and one of the edges c of the main portion shall serve assupports to maintain the tablet (when in an unfolded state and ready foruse) in, or nearly in, the same plane, as shown in Fig. 2. The said partA has a plate, d, extending horizontally from one of its ends, and issoldered or otherwise secured to such end and to the edges c c, as shownin the drawings, the said plate having acylindrical or otherproper-shaped hole made vertically through it for theY reception of aninkstand, B, which is made to ft such hole and be firmly maintained inpositzon there in. The inkstand employed may be such as is `commonlyused by soldiers, or. any other that is of the proper size and has aliquidtight cap or stopper. l

D represents the tablet, which consists of a series of thin strips orbars, e e c, 8vo., arranged atwise upon one side of a piece of cloth,leather, or other suitable exible material, such bars being so appliedin order that when the tablet is unfolded for use their inner edges mayrest against and support each other, but when such tablet is not in usethey may be readily folded into a small compass and packed within thecase. The said tablet is attached to the inner side of the body portionA, and along and near one of its edges, c, by means of rivets, cement,or in any other suitable manner. The object of so attaching the tabletto its case is to allow the former to be well supported upon the edgesof the cover and one of those of the case, when the tablet is broughtinto position for use. Furthermore, on the inner face of the tablet, andnear the outer edge thereof, I arrange an elastic band, E, which servesto confine the sheet or sheets of paper in proper position while beingwritten upon, as well as while being rolled up or packed fortransportation or otherwise.

My improved apparatus is especially intended for soldiers, engineers,and travelers, it being so constructed as to be conveniently used in theopen air as well as in the camp.

I lay no claim to the apparatus of, H. G. Small, patented January 14,1,862, nor do I claim that of George C. Hathaway as patented December24, 1861, my invention differing materially from either, for in my saidinvention I employ no portfolio, either in connection or combinationwith folding tablet or the same and its case 5 nor do I have any foldingtablet, checker or chess board separat-.e from the case, but I arrangeand combine or" apply a folding tablet and a case, or the main part andcover of such case, in a peculiar manner, whereby, when the tablet isunfolded or unrolled into a condition proper for supporting a sheet ofpaper while being written upon such tablet may rest on the cover and besus- A2, arranged and applied substantially in tained both b v the coverand the main part manner and so as to operate as represented of the case5 and, therefore7 and described.

I claim as my inventiou- HORACE C. WRITTEN. My improved portable Writingapparatus, Witnesses:

as made with its folding tablet D and the JOHN H. HARLOW,

body or main part A and cover B of its case J. L. BROWN.

